LES FERDINAND believes that Newcastle United can overcome the Joey Barton factor tonight at Loftus Road.

However, Ferdinand, a much-loved character of both Queens Park Rangers and Toon fans, feels that it will be far from easy against the resurgent Londoners, with Neil Warnocks team enjoying something of a feel-good factor.

In recent weeks Rs chairman Tony Fernandes has vowed to bravely take his side forward with a string of big-name signings.

Shaun Wright-Phillips and Barton have already arrived and Ferdinand who Newcastle signed from QPR for s6m in 1995 is intrigued to see how things pan out this evening at the Shepherds Bush venue.

Ferdinand told the Chronicle: Joeys arrival was always going to make it interesting, it certainly adds a bit of spice to the fixture.

Newcastle have been going well and have proved they have the quality to win games.

The strikers that are still there now have to step up to the plate and I think there are goals in them.

As far as QPR are concerned, its nice to see them back in the top flight. There has been a lot of turmoil there in recent years but the manager Neil Warnock has been backed by the hierarchy. And the new signings that have come in will give them that bit of a lift.

With Newcastle going into what some fear is a long, hard winter without a new No 9, Ferdinand reckons that adversity can sometimes produce new heroes.

He said: Certainly there will be somebody in that dressing room who will see this as an opportunity.

Its probably going to give somebody a chance they didnt think theyd get.

So now they get the chance to stake a claim.

Ferdinand, known as Sir Les on Tyneside, is heading back to Newcastle in just under a month for the Entertainers game at Kingston Park where he will renew his partnership with Alan Shearer in a game against Liverpools old boys on October 9.

Ferdinand said he is counting down the days to pull on a black-and-white shirt again.

He said: It will be a special day for us.

Its always great to meet up with old team-mates especially those you had great times with like I did at Newcastle.

I have had a knee problem in the last few months but that is sorted and now I am building up to the game.